Doctoral student in Media and Communication Studies

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Description

 The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is accepting applications for a doctoral studentship leading to a PhD in Media and Communication Studies at the Department of Geography, Media and Communication. The department comprises Media and Communication Studies, Human Geography, Geography, and Tourism Studies. The department offers undergraduate education as well as Master’s programmes. Media and Communication Studies boasts an inviting learning and research environment. Interdisciplinary cooperation and global perspectives are essential to our work. Undergraduate education is mainly offered within three major degree programmes: Public Relations, Visual Communication and Design, and Digital Media and Analysis.

Research in Media and Communication Studies is primarily conducted in two profiled research environments at the department: Centre for Geomedia Studies (https://www.kau.se/en/geomedia) and the research environment NODE (NODE - The Ander Centre for Research on News and Opinion in the Digital Era | Karlstad University). Geomedia is an interdisciplinary research centre that brings together more than 30 researchers and doctoral students and offers a variety of research-related activities. Research within Geomedia focuses on the interplay between media, spatiality and mobility in light of both contemporary and historical transformations in technology, society and culture. NODE’s research areas cover journalism, public opinion and media in a broad sense. The research is particularly focused on news reporting and public opinion in a time of widespread digitalisation and the increasing influence of social media platforms in political communication. Political discourse and audience perspectives are also studied. Researchers active in NODE and Geomedia regularly publish papers in international journals and are successful in securing external research funding.

As a doctoral student, you will have great freedom in designing your thesis project. Although it will not be linked to a specific research project, it must address a predefined, broad theme: The social consequences of digitalisation. The project should explore the opportunities and challenges – and the tensions between them – associated with our connected, digital everyday life. The thesis project can also focus on the various counter-reactions that arise from how people experience and perceive the digitalisation of daily life. As a doctoral student in Media and Communication Studies, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with both Geomedia and NODE. 

You can find more information about Karlstad University at www.kau.se/en/ and more information about the subject at www.kau.se/en/media-and-communication-studies.

Duties

As a doctoral student, you will primarily dedicate time to your own studies. The doctoral programme comprises 240 credits for a Degree of Doctor and 120 credits for a Degree of Licentiate. The doctoral appointment is a paid position that offers a combination of studies and work, and a great opportunity for a potential career in academia. Doctoral students are expected to work independently and be prepared to contribute to the activities and development of the discipline and the department. You are given the opportunity to deepen your interests in collaboration with others. Teaching and administrative duties may also be included upon agreement, but will not constitute more than 20% of full-time. Work as a doctoral student allows for great freedom and flexibility in terms of how you organise your tasks. This requires commitment, drive and a structured approach to successfully complete the doctoral thesis.

To contribute to a positive work environment and further both the department’s activities and your own development as a researcher, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

Entry requirements and admission

To be eligible for a doctoral studentship, applicants must meet the general and specific entry requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35).

To meet the general entry requirements, applicants must have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 39).

To meet the specific entry requirements, the applicant must have completed courses comprising at least 90 credits in Media and Communication Studies corresponding to the introductory, continuation and specialisation level. An applicant can also be eligible after having acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, in the country or abroad.

To be eligible for doctoral studies, applicants must also be considered to have the ability required to benefit from the programme (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.

 Assessment criteria

 The assessment of eligible applicants is based on the criteria listed below.

 Special weight will be given to the applicant’s previous study results with an emphasis on the quality of independent written work of a scholarly and investigatory nature, particularly at the master’s level.

Special weight will also be given to the quality and originality of the applicant’s proposed thesis project.

 Considerable weight will be given to how well the applicant’s proposed research specialisation aligns with the predefined theme – The social consequences of digitalisation – as well as with the subject’s overall research connected to Geomedia and/or NODE (see above).

Considerable weight will also be given to the applicant’s language skills, especially proficiency in English.

Weight will be given to any published research papers (e.g., articles in scientific journals, research reports, conference papers).

Weight will also be given to the extent to which the applicant intends to be a physically present and active member of the research environment of the subject.

A good command of Swedish is considered a valuable qualification.

Terms

Upon admission to doctoral studies, the person will be offered the appointment of doctoral student (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 5, Sect. 3). The position comprises four years of full-time studies consisting of research only. If teaching or other departmental duties become relevant, the appointment will be extended by a corresponding period, up to a maximum of five years full-time. The position is fixed-term, one year initially, followed by possible extensions of a maximum of two years at a time (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 5). Start date as agreed by both parties.

The salary for the doctoral studentship corresponds to the standard level of salary for doctoral students and progresses in accordance with a local collective agreement.

Application

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

- a cover letter where the applicant details the reasons behind their interest in the position

- a list of qualifications (CV)

- degree certificate with a complete transcript of the courses included, or a certified list of completed courses with grades and dates

- copy of Master’s thesis or equivalent

- where applicable, copies of publications or certificates for other qualifications

- a brief research plan (1,500–2,000 words) where the applicant presents the thesis idea and how it relates to the research theme: The social consequences of digitalisation

- any letters of recommendation
- two references, such as a teacher, supervisor, or previous or current superior

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
HR-avdelningen
HR-administratör

651 88 KARLSTAD

Application deadline: 13 August 2026

State the reference number: REK 2026/141.

Applicants with qualifications from abroad

If you have qualifications from a university outside Sweden or if they have not been recognised by a Swedish authority before, it is important that you attach degree certificates and official transcripts to facilitate the recognition of foreign qualifications.

Provide a contact for the degree-awarding institution (phone number or email) who can verify your qualifications. 

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies. This translation carries no legal weight.

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university’s commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4r

1. Mats Nilsson, [email protected]

1. OFR/S Fackförbundet ST, [email protected]
2. OFR/S Sveriges lärare Madeleine Wiker, [email protected]
3. Per Hurtig, Saco, [email protected]